Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Original Site of hospital founded 1392, and moved to a new site in the 19th century. The gateway was moved to the new site and survives.

Monument Types

• ALMSHOUSE (ALMSHOUSE, Medieval - 1392 AD to 1539 AD)
• ALMSHOUSE (ALMSHOUSE, Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1899 AD)

Full description

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['A' TR 3280 5804] St Thomas's Hospital (Founded A.D. 1392) (1,2) ['B' TR 3301 5810] St Thomas's Hospital [NR] (Site of ) (1,2) St Thomas's Hospital, Moat Sole, Sandwich almshouses ['A'] removed from the original site ['B'] in the C19th. The C14th gatehouse was reconstructed on the new site in the form of a lych-gate. Founded 1392 for a warden, 8 poor brothers and 4 poor sisters. (3,4) Nothing remains at the original site. The present St Thomas's Hospital is still an almshouse. (5) St Thomas's Hospital, Sandwich. Founded by Thomas Ellis of Sandwich for 8 poor brothers and 4 poor sisters and a messuage and 132 acres were granted to the hospital by 2 clerks and 2 others in 1392; net income over #12 c1547. (6) St Thomas's Hospital. Moat Sole. Founded in 1392, rebuilt in the mid C19th. The entrance arch of the gateway the only medieval bit. (7) The Hospial of St Thomas, Sandwich. Richard II on 28 June 1392, granted licence for Thomas Rollyng and William Swan, clerks, John Godard and Richard Benge to grant a messuage and 132 acres of land in Woodnesborough to twelve poor inmates of a hospital to be founded by them at Sandwich in honour of St Thomas the Martyr. It appears from the deeds of the hospital that they were the feoffees of Thomas Elys of Sandwich, the real founder and so the hospital is sometimes known by his name. Its property and management have always been vested in trustees. In the certificate of colleges and chantries the gross income of 'Ellys hospitall' is given as #13 6s and the net income as #12 0s 4.5d yearly. It survived the Dissolution, and Archbishop Parker reported of it in 1562 'It is founded by one Thomas Ellis and yt is now of the foundation and patronage of the mayor and jurates of the same. Ther be placed, for tyme of life, eight brothers and four sisters and they are releaved by almes and the revenues of the said hospitalls, amounting to #12 by yere. The hospitall is very charitableordered, and serveyed by the mayor. It is not taxed to the tenth'. Regulations for the management of the hospital were drawn up by the governors and trustees on 17 July 1725, because they could not find any then existing. The twelve persons were to be eight men and four single women. The Charity Commissioners reported in 1837 that there were in the hospital eight brothers, one of whom was annually appointed master by the trustees, and four sisters; and described its property in detail. (8) Additional bibliography - not consulted. (9,10)

<1> OS 25" 1907 (OS Card Reference). SKE48258.

<2> OS 25" 1956 (OS Card Reference). SKE48271.

<3> MHLG (1600/11/A, Sep 1948), 34 (OS Card Reference). SKE46928.

<4> Med Rel Houses, England & Wales 1953, 304 (Knowles & Hadcock) (OS Card Reference). SKE46808.

<5> F1 FGA 22-JUN-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42960.

<6> Med Rel Houses, England & Wales, 1971, 389 (D Knowles & R Neville Hadcock) (OS Card Reference). SKE46809.

<7> BOE North East and East Kent 1983, 450 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE38271.

<8> VCH Kent 2, 1926, 227 (R C Fowler) (OS Card Reference). SKE50977.

<9> Tanner's Notitia Monastica, Kent, 1787, LII,3, 2061F (Naismith) (OS Card Reference). SKE49815.

<10> Antiq and Topo Cabinet 4, 1808 (J Storer) (OS Card Reference). SKE33244.

<11> Field report for monument TR 35 NW 9 - June, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6032.

Sources and further reading